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NEWS: Race information on Canada’s short track team at the World Cup in Japan

OTTAWA – Speed Skating Canada’s short track team is in Nagoya, Japan, for the third Korean Air ISU World Cup of the season from Friday, Dec. 2 to Sunday, Dec. 4.

Qualification rounds are on Friday (Japanese time) for the 500 metres, both 1,000-metre races, the 1,500 metres and relays. Saturday’s races will see the 1,500-metre race, the first of two 1,000-metre competitions and the men’s and women’s relay semi-finals. On Sunday, there will be the 500-metre and second 1,000-metre races, as well as the relay finals.

Five athletes will be competing in their first career World Cups. Vanessa Bélanger-Marceau of Loretteville, Que., will race in the 500 metres and first 1,000 metres. Montreal’s Sabrina Bourgela will skate in both 1,000-metre races. Kasandra Bradette of St. Félicien, Que., is scheduled for the 500 metres and first 1,000 metres. On the men’s side, Charle Cournoyer of Longueuil, Que., and Quebec City’s Alexandre St. Jean will see their first career World Cups. Cournoyer will compete in the second 1,000 metres and 1,500 metres, while St. Jean will skate in the 500-metre and first 1,000-metre.

Taking in their first World Cups of the season are national team member Rémi Beaulieu of Alma, Que., and Montreal’s Andréa Do-Duc of the development team. Beaulieu will compete in the 500-metre and first 1,000-metre races, and Do-Duc will line up for the 1,000- and 1,500-metres races. After winning won gold in first 500 metres and bronze in both the 1,000 metres and relay at the World Cup in Saguenay, Que., Olivier Jean of Lachenaie, Que., will take part in his second World Cup of the season skating in the 500 metres and first 1,000 metres.

Four national team members will be continuing the World Cup schedule with their third and fourth competitions this season.

Already wearing two gold and two silver individual medals on the season, Charles Hamelin of Sainte-Julie, Que., will compete in the second 1,000-metre and 1,500-metre events. Yellowknife’s Michael Gilday, silver medallist at the World Cup in Saguenay, Que., will race in the second 1,000 metres and 1,500 metres. Caroline Truchon of Chicoutimi, Que., will compete in the 500 metres and 1,500 metres, while Gabrielle Waddell of Red Deer, Alta., will take part in the second 1,000-metre race and 1,500 metres.

Day 1 of the World Cup in Japan starts Friday, Dec. 2 at 9:30 a.m. local in Japan (14 hours ahead of Eastern time), which is Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Day 2 begins with the repechage at 7:15 p.m. ET on Friday and the quarter- and semi-finals starting at 1 a.m. ET on Saturday. Day 3 begins again with the repechage at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, followed by the quarter- and semi-finals starting at 1 a.m. ET on Sunday.

The following is additional team information:- The team notes (PDF) document with updated schedules, bios and results.- Follow the Canadian team on Speed Skating Canada’s Twitter account, www.Twitter.com/SSC_PVC.- End of day news releases will be distributed to media and posted on SSC’s website (www.speedskating.ca) and Twitter.- Audio (MP3 format) from athletes and coaches will be available on the website with links on the news releases.- Host organization website: http://www.skatingjapan.jp/wcst2011/- The results web site for the World Cup is: ISU Short Track.